Oldtown News

My look at the issues of our Oldtown neighborhood and other political news

Friday, May 06, 2005

C'MON ELDER STATESMEN WRITE your OWN LETTERS

C'MON ELDER STATESMEN WRITE your OWN LETTERS

Underbelly NewsDowntown Eastside

Two former Premier's of the province, Hon Bill Bennett and Hon Dave Barrett have recently announced their opposition to STV. What is particularly sad is that these two elder Statesmen allowed someone other than themselves to write their open letter to British Columbians.

I think its a sad day when two supposed leaders need someone else to write their letters and to make matters worse, the letters appear as form letters save and except a few words changed here and there.

One would expect that two such esteemed leaders could have taken the time to compose their own thoughts and feelings on such an important issue.

Posted below are the two form letters from these two rascals!

Jamie Lee Hamiltontricia_foxx@yahoo.com

By DAVE BARRETT

Open letter to BC Citizens:

On May 17, 2005 British Columbians will be asked to vote twice. Once in the provincial general election. Secondly, on a referendum to change our voting system. It is the second issue that causes me great concern and prompts me to write.

The vote on electoral reform will ask British Columbians if they want to change how they elect their Members of the Legislature.

My opinion is based on both appreciation of our history and hope for our future. In BC for over a hundred years we have followed the British Parliamentary system. It is based upon responsibility and accountability. One person--one vote. The citizen is responsible to cast their vote wisely. The person elected is accountable to all the citizens irrespective of their vote.

The proposed system loses this principle because the complicated counting formula replaces clear voter choice with academic theory. Most importantly voters will lose accountability because they will have between two and seven MLA's representing them in huge ridings. On every difficult issue buck passing and finger pointing would replace true representation.

For those reasons when you vote on May 17, 2005 think hard about switching to a system that will hobble our Province's bright future. I urge you to VOTE NO!

Yours truly,

Dave BarrettPremier of BC, 1972-1975

By BILL BENNETT

Open letter to BC Citizens:

On May 17, 2005 British Columbians will be asked to vote twice. Once in the provincial general election. Secondly, on a referendum on electoral reform. It is the second issue that causes me great concern and prompted me to write.

First let me acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the members of the Citizens Assembly in carrying out their duties. Their recommendations on electoral reform will ask British Columbians if they want to change how they elect their Members of the Legislature. With the greatest respect for their effort, I must disagree with their recommendation.

My view is based on both appreciation of our history and hope for our future. Our parliamentary tradition is seated in the tradition of one person equals one vote. A citizen selects a candidate or a party to represent them and votes accordingly. In this proposed system you end up with partial votes determining the outcome because of the complicated counting formula. It allows a few to manipulate the outcome of the majority in favour of biased minorities.

hen you vote on May 17, 2005 think hard about switching to a system that will hobble our Province's bright future. I urge you to VOTE NO!

ANOTHER GREEN WORLD

Underbelly NewsDowntown Eastside

Hi All!

My good friend Jennifer has begun blogging and I'm really excited! I've posted her latest entry, with her permission of course, down below. She has hit on a hot-button issue which I think is quite insightful and so very truthful. Please remember to visit her blog http://www.anothergreenworld.org for your uncensored news. And as an aside, I know Jennifer to be very polite and one not to mention names but methinks that her post is about an unmentioned Green candidate who doesn't quite get it.

Enjoy folks - Jamie Lee

WE are being TREATED to [or TORTURED by] a Provincial election here in BRITISH COLUMBIA.

I wish all the candidates well. It takes grit and a healthy ego to be able to stand for office these days. There is no question that the public holds an extreme distaste for "politicians?" What was a respected position has been degraded to hardly recognizable.

How did that happen? Where does the distrust come from? What are we looking for in a political representative?

There was a time when politicians were our super stars in Canada. During the 1970s Canada was bringing in great social policy and our leaders were hard working, respected stateswomen and men. Boundaries were being pushed even into the 1980s as the country's values were being entrenched in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that guaranteed equal respect and access for all Canadians. We had an on going match with Quebec that would flare up and be quelled like the intermittent strikes at Christmas by Canada Post. Those were interesting times. Canadians could feel safe that our elected officials were dedicated to "standing on guard for we".

Then something changed. In the early 1980s movie stars started being elected in the US, i.e. Ronald Regan and a trend toward creating packaged candidates began. [Note: Rachel Rosenthol was the first to depict this trend in her art video "The Perfect Leader"]. Substance became subverted by shiny surfaces. Any one who wanted power scrambled to get on the wagon. Remember the glitzing up of Preston Manning or Stockwell Day greeting media on a jet-ski? How about the "Ed's Back" video for venerable Ed Broadbent? That was forwarded around the web as much as the list of things the Dalai Lama apparently said about life! I?m all for the use of the Internet and different media of communication to express oneself. My point is that the pursuit of attention has become paramount in politics. I think this is where the problem lies. What this means for candidates is that they are ever in pursuit of attention instead of being grounded in their values and determining how they can contribute to a better day for us all.

The current, although stale, rhetoric is the semblance of consultation with voters so that we can be correctly represented. Even the newest comers to candidacy are parroting the hollow claims that they want to/are consulting voters. There is nothing wrong with this, surely they need to understand the hearts and concerns of people they hope to represent. But if the overall intention is to attract voters, where does this pursuit of views and interests stop?

How do candidates know when to stop when it comes to soliciting and incorporating the views of others? Their pursuit seems unbounded and unfocused and they appear chaotic trying to appease everyone. What I don't see are people displaying a clear set of core values and speaking from a grounded foundation of heart-felt integrity that would give me confidence.

How can we trust candidates and incumbents when they cannot display core personal values that are consistently represented in what they do and say and who they do it with and say it to?

The next time a candidate smiles and glad hands you, ask them: "What the hell do you stand for"?? Listen, if you get an authentic answer, you'll know. Good luck everyone.

PUBLIC RALLY for STV

Hi everyone. Here is a public service announcement regarding STV--Jamie Lee.

PUBLIC RALLY for STV

*** Please Forward Widely ***

Public Rally For Democracy And BC-STV -- May 8

On May 17, voters in BC have the opportunity to change BC's electoral system to a system that's much better. A system that was chosen by ordinary citizens, such as yourself, who made up BC's Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform. That system is BC-STV which is proportional (reflecting the popular vote), is fairer (because all votes count), and gives strong local representation.

If you support BC-STV or want to find out more about it, we urge you to join environmentalist and broadcaster David Suzuki, radio host Rafe Mair, former UK Liberal Party leader Lord David Steel, Vancouver city councillor Sam Sullivan, former ICBC president Nick Geer, BC Citizens? Assembly member Shoni Field, Fair Vote Canada director Dennis Pilon, political scientist Sabina Singh Arnott, and others:

This Sunday, May 8, 2:00 PMAt the Vancouver Public Library North Plaza

Show your support for democracy and BC-STV by attending this important rally!

And if you can, please download and distribute the following poster and handout: